Feelings were the most insignificant thing in this world. What was the point of them? They couldn''t defy parental expectations, silence rumors, or change reality.


    "Serena, this is all my fault." Tears streamed down Mom''s face. I handed her a tissue as she took a deep breath. "You and Alex grew up together. If I hadn''t married Robert, maybe..."


    "Mom," I interrupted in a firm tone. "This isn''t your fault. If anything, the reason I''m even able to work at Hastings Group and be a vice president at such a prestigiouspany is because I''m your daughter. If you really think about it, Mom, you''ve already given me a good future."


    "But..." Mom sobbed. "The price of that is losing your chance with Alex..."


    "Mom." I chuckled lightly, pretending to be at ease. "Weren''t you always against me being with Alex? Why do you seem even more upset now that there''s truly no possibility between us left?"


    "Serena." Mom grasped my hand tightly. "It''s not that I was ever against it; I was just worried... I was worried that Alex didn''t truly care for you or that you didn''t fully understand your own feelings. But today, when I found out you willingly turned down that vi, I knew that you really do love him."


    Tears fell uncontrobly down my face. She pulled me into her embrace again. "Serena, you''re my daughter, and I know you. How you acted tells me that you deeply love Alex, don''t you?"


    I buried my head in her neck, and upon hearing her words, I gave a muffled nod.


    "I..." Mom let out a long sigh. "Serena, I want to divorce Robert."


    "Why?" Her words stunned me. I lifted my head and looked at her. "Mom, are you unhappy staying at the Hastings residence?"


    She lowered her gaze and shook her head. "Serena, I just feel that... If it weren''t for my rtionship with Robert, maybe there would still be a chance for you and Alex. I want to give you that chance."


    I shook my head helplessly. "This has nothing to do with you and Mr. Hastings Senior. Mom, families like the Hastingses are not ordinary, and Alex is the epitome of that world. Someone like him was never meant to have an ordinary person as his wife or girlfriend."


    Mom''s eyes dimmed with sorrow. "Is... Is there really no hope for you and Alex?"


    I let out a deep breath. I had already thought about this all day. Yes, 10 loved Alex, and he had feelings for me too but none of that mattered. From the very start, we were never meant to be.


    That night, I drifted in and out of sleep, my mind overwhelmed by memories and future worries.


    It wasn''t until dawn that I managed to doze off for a short while. When I woke up, Mom was already gone.


    She had left a homemade breakfast on the table. I took a few bites, but I barely had an appetite.


    "Are you sure about this?" Alex frowned at Oliver inside his office. "Mr. Morris is my father''s personalwyer. Why did he meet up with Serena?"


    "I couldn''t get too close." Oliver shrugged slightly. "If I had, Ms. Ashford would''ve noticed me. could only observe from a distance. Mr. Morris seemed to have given her something, but she refused it."


    Oliver thought back to what he had seen. "It looked like a property deed."